Means for positioning the arms of a door closer



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Feb. 16, 1965 J. T. LUNDEBJERG MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE ARMS OF' A DOOR CLOSER Filed Sept. 14. 1961 United States Patent O 3,69,2a8 MEANS PSSTNENS @HE tt/ @E A iit CLGSER ames T. undebierg, West Hartford, Conn., assigner to Earhart Eerporation, a corporation of {Zonnecticut Filed ept. ie, Q, Ser. No. i3S,lS9 4 Qlaims. (Ci. .i6-49) The present invention relates to a novel means and method for properly positioning the arms of door closing devices relatively to the door and frame structures on which said devices are mounted, and more particularly to a novel stop member and method for automatically positioning said arms.

While the stop member and the method of the present invention may be employed with door closers of various types, they are especially useful for positioning the arms of a concealed door closer; and l have therefore chosen to describe my invention in conjunction with one such type of door closer.

Concealed door closers generally comprise a door closing and checking mechanism which is contained in a very slender casing that is usually adapted to be mortised into the upper rail of a door and thus hidden from view. The said mechanism includes a rotatable spindle which projects from the casing perpendicularly to the upper edge of the door and has a rigid, elongated, radially extending main arm aiiixed thereto which is adapted to be connected to the door frame so that the spindle is caused to rotate during opening and closing movements of the door. The means most commonly employed for connecting the main arm to the frame include a rigid, elongated forearm which is pivotally connected at one end -to the end of the main arm and at its opposite end is rotatably connected to a bracket on the frame. When the door is closed, the main arm and the major portion of the forearm lie substantially parallel to each other and to the door rail and are disposed between the upper edge thereof and the door frame so that they are also hidden from view.

In most instances the space between the upper edge of the door and its frame is less than the overall thickness of the arms and it is necessary to provide an elongated recess in the upper edge of the door to accommodate said arms. This recess opens along one side to the face of the door adjacent the stops on the door frame to permit free movement of the -arms out of and into the recess during opening and closing movements of the door. The opposite side of the recess is spaced from the other face of the door and the side wall thus provided along the recess further conceals the door closer arms.

Many problems are encountered in the installation of concealed door closers due to the fact that the doors on which they are mounted are generally not more than an inch and three-quarters in thickness. If the arms of the door closer are to be properly alisned with the door when the door is closed, it is imperative that the door closer casing and the forearm mounting bracket be very accurately installed and, especially, that the specified distance between the axis of the door closer spindle and the axis of rotation of the forearm be precisely maintained. Any variation one way or the other from the specified distance is greatly magnified at the connected ends of the arms remote from said axes and can cause misalignment of said arms to such an extent that they will prevent the door from closing. The installation problems are even greater when a recess must be provided in the upper edge of the door to accommodate the arms since the side wall of the recess reduces the available space above the edge of the door for the arms. The problems can be better appreciated when it is considered that with some door closers an error of as little as one-sixteenth of an inch in the distance between the spindle axis and the axis of rotation of the forearm can throw the arms out of alignment with the door to such an extent that the door will not close.

in order to overcome at least some of the above-mentioned installation problems, concealed door closers have been developed in which the distance between the axis of the door closer spindle, which constitutes the axis of rotation of the main arm, and the axis of rotation of the forearm can be adjusted after installation of the closer to properly align said arms with the upper edge of the door. This has been accomplished in prior devices by providing adjustable means on the mounting bracket for the forearm which permit adjustment of its axis of rotation relatively to the axis of the door closer spindle, as disclosed in the co-pending application of Benjamin S. Bernhard, Serial No. 120,749, tiled Iune 29, 1961, for example, or by constructing the door closer so that the casing thereof is adjustable to permit shifting of the spindle axis relatively to the axis of rotation of the forearm as shown in US. Patent No. 2,899,701. With such prior devices, however, all adjustments must be made manually on a trial and error basis; -a procedure which is both time consuming and only as accurate as the person doing the work.

The present invention is concerned primarily with concealed door closers of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned co-pending application of Benjamin S. Bernhard, Serial No. 120,749, now abandoned, in which the door closer casing is immovably mounted in a mortise in the upper exige of the door rail and the forearm is connected to the door frame by an adjustable mounting bracket. It will be apparent from the following description, however, that my invention may be employed with other types of door closers such as those in which the closer casing is mounted on the door frame and the forearm is connected to the door, or those in which the casing is adjustable relatively to the forearm mounting bracket, or even those types of door closers where neither the closer casing nor the forearm mounting bracket is adjustable.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a novel stop member and method for automatically positioning the arms 0f a door closer in proper relationship to the door or frame member on which the closer is mounted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide` a novel stop member and method for properly positioning the main arm and the forearm of a door closer relatively to the door or frame member when the door is closed to automatically establish the correct location of the axis of rotation of the forearm relatively to its respective member. Y

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel stop member and method for automati cally establishing the proper relationship between the axes of rotation of the main arm and the forearm of a door closer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelstop member and method for positioning the main arm and the forearm of a door closer when the door is: closed so that the adjustable member of a forearm mounting bracket will automatically assume its correct posi# tion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a stop member which is adapted to be temporarily aixed to a portion of the door closer casing for properly positioning the arms thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stop member which may be conveniently stored on a portion of the door closer casing so that said tool will be readily available for subsequent use.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawing; attention being called, however, to the fact that the drawing is only illustrative of preferred embodiments and uses of my invention and that changes may be made in the specic constructions illustrated and described as long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Referring now to the drawing:

FIG.v l is a plan view of a concealed door closer of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned co-pending application illustrating the stop member of the present invention and the preferred manner in which it is used.

FIG. 2 is a similar view illustrating the manner in which the stop member functions when the door closes.

FIG. 3 is a sectional end view taken on line, 3-3 of FIG. 2. j

FIG. 4 is a sectional end view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and further illustrating the stop member of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational View illustrating the construction of the forearm mounting bracket of the door closer. Y

FIG. 6Y is an member. Y V Y FIG. 7 is a plan view of said stop member.

In order that my invention may be readily understood, I have illustrated in the drawing arconventional door frame 5 having a head jamb 5-a including a stop portion 5b. A door 6 is swingably mounted on said frame by hinges 7 and said doorV includes an upper rail o-a which abuts said stop S-b when the door is closed as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and v4.

I have also shown a conventional door closer of the concealed type mounted in said door. Said closer, in-

elevational end'view of my novel stop dicated generally by the numeral 8, .is mortised into theV upper rail 6-a of said door and includes a main arm 9 which is non-rotatably affixed to the operating spindle 10 of the closer for rotation therewith about an axis extending perpendicularly to the upper edge of the door. The free end of said main larm 9 is pivotally connected to one endof a forearm 11 by a suitable pivot member 12 and the opposite end of said forearm is rotatably mounted on a pivot post 13 of an adjustable mounting bracket 14 which is mortised into the stop portion S-b of the head jamb of the door frame. When the door is closed, thel arms 9 and 11 are disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the door between the upper edge thereof and the frame 5 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The adjustable mounting bracket 14 disclosed herein is of the type shown in the above-mentioned co-pending application and includes an elongated supporting block 15 which carries the pivot screw 13 and is mounted on the Vbracket for rectilinear sliding movement longitudinally of the head jamb 5-a and parallel to the door when the door is in closed position. The mounting block 15 carries a pair of clamping screws 15-a-15-a which are employed to secure the mounting block to the bracket. It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that the arms 9 and 11 of the door closer may be brought into proper alignment with the door by simply moving the mounting block 15 one way or another on the bracket to properly position the axis of rotation ofthe forearm withV respect Vto the axis of the spindle 10. Conversely, if the arms are held in properly :aligned position relatively to the door when the door is (closed, the mounting block will automatically assume its proper position on the bracket 14. Y

In order to permit installation of the closer'mechanism f8 in the door 6, the upper rail 6-a thereof is provided with .a deep mortise 16 and an elongated, relatively shallow recess 17 which extends beyond the opposite ends of said mortise 16 and opens to the face of the door adjacent the door stop S-b as indicated at 17-a. The deep mortise 16 receives the casing 18 of the door closer, and the elongated recess 17 receives the arms 9 and 11 and a mounting plate d 19 which supports the closer casing 1S and is secured to the door by a plurality of screws 2d. The mounting plate 19 is provided with holes therethrough and the hexagonal heads 21 and 21-1 of the valve bushings of the door closer project through said holes and terminate above the top surface of the mounting plate as best shown in FIG. 3.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a novel stop member for positioning the arms of the door closer in proper alignment with the door to automatically locate the axis of rotation of the forearm 11 in its proper position relatively to the axis of the spindle 19.

Said stop member, indicated by the numeral 22, is construeted from a flat piece of sheet metal and includes a flat, substantially square body portion ZZ-a having a hole 23 therethrough of a size to loosely fit the heads of the valve bushings 21 and 21-a so that said tool can swivel thereon. The body portion 22-41 has an integral, upstanding toe Z4 along one edge thereof and an integral, upstanding stop flange 25 along its edge opposite said toe 24. The stop member is so proportioned that when it is placed on the bushing 21 in the position shown in FIG. l, it will rest on the upper surface of the mounting plate 19 and the toe 24 will lit under the main arm 9 with its upper edge disposed closely adjacent the underside thereof. The stop ange 25 is formed so that it will project upwardly into the path of the adjacent 'edge of the main arm 9, as best shown in FIG. 4, and is so arranged with respect to the hole 23 that said flange will position the main arm 9 in proper alignment with the door when engaged with the adjacent edge thereof.

After the door closer has been installed, the arms may be quickly and easily positioned and the supporting block properly adjusted by rst opening the door to permit access to both of the clamping screws 15-a15-a.` Said screws are loosened to permit free sliding movement of the supporting block 1S, and the stop member 22 is then slipped over the packing nut 21, in approximately the position shown in FIG. l, and the door is released. As will be understood by those sldlled in the art, the spring actuated mechanism of the door closer biases the main arm 9 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. l, so that the door will immediately start to close upon the release thereof. The main arm 9 will continue to rotate under the influence of the door closer spring until the edge thereof engages the stop flange 25, .whereupon further rotation of the arm is prevented and said arm is positioned in aligned relation with the door. It will be noted that the stop member 22 is prevented from tipping under the force transmitted thereto by the spring-pressed main arm 9 through engagement of the upper edge of the toe 24 with the underside of said arm, as shown in FIG. 4, so that said main arm is rigidly held in aligned position with the door.

It will be understood that with the main arm held in aligned relation with'the door by the stop member 22, the supporting block 15 will automatically be forced to assume its proper position on the bracket through the rigid forearm 11 when the door is closed. It is then only necessary to tighten the clamping screws 15-a15a to complete the installation. The stop member 22 is then removed from the bushing 21 and may either be discarded or stored for future use on the bushing 2li-a.

While my improved stop member is especially adapted for use with door closers of the type disclosed in the accompanying drawing, it is apparent that it can also be used with door closers in which the forearm is mounted on a non-adjustable pivot member for locating the position of said member on the door frame.

I claim:

1. In a door closer for biasing a door member to closed position in its frame member .and including a first casing adapted to be mounted in recessed position in one of said members, said first casing having a biasing means therein, a main arm secured toV a first pivot means on said first casing and operatively connected to said biasing means, a

forearm pivotaliy connected at one end to the end of said main arm, a second mounting casing recessed in the other of said members adjacent said first casing having a second pivot means rotatably supporting the other end of said forearm thereon, said arms being adapted to occupy overlying positions substantially in alignment with said door member between the end edge thereof and said frame member when said door member is closed, slidable means associated with one of said casings for released, free longitudinal movement of its pivot means relative to its ember, manually operated fastening means for securing said siidable means in fixed operating position when it has moved to said desired fixed operating position when said door member is closed, said fastening means being accessible for operation when said door member is in fully closed position, and a stop member positioned between the edge of said door member and said frame member when said door is closed, said stop member having a projecting portion engageabie with said arms for locating said arms in aligned relation to said door member when it is in closed position.

2. A door cioser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop member is secured to one of said casings.

3. A door cioser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop member is secured to one of said casings between said casing and its attached arm, said stop member having said projecting portion at one end thereof and a projecting toe at the opposite end thereof, said toe engaging said arm to prevent tipping thereof.

4. In a door closer for biasing a door member to closed position in its frame member and including a first casing adapted to be mounted in recessed position in an end edge of said door member, said casing having a biasing means therein, a main arm secured to a pivot means on said casing and being operatively connected to said biasing means, a forearm pivotally connected at one end to the end of said main arm, a second mounting casing recessed in said frame member adjacent said first casing and having a pivot means rotatably supporting the other end of said forearm thereon, said arms being adapted to occupy overlying positions substantially in alignment with said door member between the end edge thereof and said frame member when said door member is closed, siidable means associated With said second mounting casing for released, free longitudinal movement of its pivot means relative to said frame member, manually operated fastening means for securing said slidable means in fixed operating position when it has moved to said desired fixed operating position when said door member is fully closed, and a stop member positioned on said iirst casing between the end edge of said door member and said frame member when said door is closed, said stop member having a projecting portion engageable with said arms for locating said arms in aligned relation to said door member when it is in ciosed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS Schroeder Sept. 15, 1959 

1. IN A DOOR CLOSER FOR BIASING A DOOR MEMBER TO CLOSED POSITION IN ITS FRAME MEMBER AND INCLUDING A FIRST CASING ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN RECESSED POSITION IN ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID FIRST CASING HAVING A BIASING MEANS THEREIN, A MAIN ARM SECURED TO A FIRST PIVOT MEANS ON SAID FIRST CASING AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BIASING MEANS, A FOREARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE END OF SAID MAIN ARM, A SECOND MOUNTING CASING RECESSED IN THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS ADJACENT SAID FIRST CASING HAVING A SECOND PIVOT MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE OTHER END OF SAID FOREARM THEREON, SAID ARMS BEING ADAPTED TO OCCUPY OVERLYING POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DOOR MEMBER BETWEEN THE END EDGE THEREOF AND SAID FRAME MEMBER WHEN SAID DOOR MEMBER IS CLOSED, SLIDABLE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID CASING FOR RELEASED, FREE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF ITS PIVOT MEANS RELATIVE TO ITS MEMBER, MANUALLY OPERATED FASTENING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SLIDABLE MEANS IN FIXED OPERATING POSITION WHEN IT HAS MOVED TO SAID DESIRED FIXED OPERATING POSITION WHEN SAID DOOR MEMBER IS CLOSED, SAID FASTENING MEANS BEING ACCESSIBLE FOR OPERATION WHEN SAID DOOR MEMBER IS IN FULLY CLOSED POSITION, AND A STOP MEMBER POSITIONED BETWEEN THE EDGE OF SAID DOOR MEMBER AND SAID FRAME MEMBER WHEN SAID DOOR IS CLOSED, SAID STOP MEMBER HAVING A PROJECTING PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ARMS FOR LOCATING SAID ARMS IN ALIGNED RELATION TO SAID DOOR MEMBER WHEN IT IS IN CLOSED POSITION. 